More than 3,500 children have been killed or injured in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, with child casualties rising again this year, according to a recent UN report. For these families, the war is not a single moment of devastation, but a daily fight to protect childhood itself.
When families flee war, they leave behind more than homes. For children living with disabilities, they lose the fragile systems that make daily life possible: trusted therapists, familiar routines, specialized care, a sense of safety. In an instant, those lifelines can vanish.
Based in Lviv, the Dzherelo Rehabilitation Centre has been a lifeline for children and youth with disabilities since long before the full-scale invasion, providing rehabilitation services and implementing day programs. What began in 1993 as a small, self-funded group grew into something much larger: a place where children with complex needs can develop, socialize, and experience a real quality of life every day. For many families, it is simply irreplaceable.
The Canada-Ukraine Foundation has supported Dzherelo through its ‘Druzi of Dzherelo’ partnership since 2019. Over the years, more than 20,000 children, young people, and families received rehabilitation and social services. Since the full-scale invasion began, the centre expanded its reach across western Ukraine and beyond, providing urgent crisis response and humanitarian assistance to an additional 30,000 people through their programs. That growth is only possible because of donors like you.
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About the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF)
Founded in 1995, CUF has a strong track record of providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in the areas of healthcare, education and civil society. CUF collaborates with aid providers in Ukraine, Canada, and beyond to maximize impact and cost-effectiveness of your support.